Caption: Marconigram. Sailors reading a marconigram on board a ship during the 1900s. A marconigram, a telegram transmitted between wireless radios, was invented by the Italian Guglielmo Marconi (1874- 1937) in 1896. His wireless system was the first technology that allowed trans-Atlantic radio communication. It was in use at sea by the British Navy by the beginning of the 20th century and, after the Titanic disaster of 1912, the carriage of a wireless operator was made mandatory on all passenger ships. From a photograph by W.B. Northrop.